Community Outraged Over Gaslight Village Redevelopment Proposal
Residents of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, expressed deep frustration during a recent city commission meeting that reviewed the latest version of the Gaslight Village redevelopment proposal. The event, held on July 21, left many feeling disrespected and ignored by local officials.
The project, proposed by Gaslight Investors, is intended for properties located at 2255 Wealthy St. and 515 Lakeside Drive SE. This company, previously known as Jade Pig Ventures, played a key role in developing Gaslight Village two decades ago. The current concept plan has been slightly reduced from its initial presentation in January, but it still raises concerns among residents about its scale and impact on the community’s small-town character.
During the meeting, which began at 6 p.m., a crowd of around 50 residents filled the room. However, the lengthy process caused many to leave before the public comment period could begin. Those who remained were visibly upset when the opportunity to voice their opinions finally arrived around 10 p.m.
Judith Baxter, a local resident, criticized the mayor for not allowing public input earlier in the meeting. “The mayor could have stopped this and taken public comment at any time in this meeting rather than make these people wait until 10 o’clock at night before they get a say,” she said. “That is disrespectful of your community.”
David Decker echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that the discussion around “character” seemed to favor higher density. “When we walked into this room tonight, there were apparently four East Grand Rapids voters that felt ‘character’ was perhaps defined by density,” he remarked. “You managed to make the meeting long enough that a lot of the folks who didn’t agree with that have left. That is disappointing.”
Commissioner Kate Skaggs also voiced concerns about the project’s compatibility with the city’s master plan. She highlighted the potential negative impact of the proposed “maze of parking lots” on health and safety.
The development would add seven multi-story buildings to an 8.6-acre site. It includes 31,930 square feet of commercial space, 149 residential units, and a new parking garage. Among the housing options are 14 townhomes and 166 other units spread across four buildings. Details about rental versus owner-occupied housing will be presented in the final plan review stage.
Gaslight Investors has proposed reserving approximately 10% of residential units as “attainable rental units.” These units would have rents based on 100%-120% of Kent County’s area median income. According to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the AMI for a single-person household in Kent County is $74,500 per year.
In March, the company presented a scaled-down plan that reduced total commercial space by 44% and included 17% fewer residential units. The plan also lowers the height of three buildings, making the tallest one five stories tall. Parking spaces have also been reduced from 687 in the original 2004 plan to 523 in the current proposal.
Jade Pig Ventures developed two commercial buildings along with Bagley Plaza in Gaslight Village in 2006 and 2007, bringing businesses and restaurants to the area. However, plans for further development were delayed by the 2008-2009 housing recession and later by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the debate continues, residents remain divided over the future of Gaslight Village. Many believe the project does not align with the community’s values and vision for the area. The upcoming final plan review stage will be crucial in determining whether the proposal moves forward or faces further revisions.
